Two years since the gruesome death of six-year-old Ellah Joy Pique, her father, Renante, continues to hope that he will get the justice that he is seeking for his daughter.
Renante and the Pique family marked the second death anniversary last Friday of Ellah Joy, who was kidnapped outside the Calajo-an Elementary School in Minglanilla town in Feb. 8, 2011.
Her body was found off a ravine in Barili town, south Cebu, the following day.
“Wala na siguroy kaayuhan ang kasakit nga akong nabati. Lisud kaayo dawaton ang iyang nadangatan (There is no end to the pain that I feel. It’s so difficult to accept my daughter’s fate),” Renante said.
The family held a novena for the eternal repose of the slain girl’s soul last Friday.
“Nag-sige og balik-balik ang hitabo sa akong huna-huna. Ang kaso nasige pa. Lisud kaayo kalimtan ang hitabo sa akong anak(It is hard to forget what happened to my daughter since the case continues),” he said.
“Nisaad ko niya nga tagaan gyud siya og hustisya. Ang hustisya moabot ra (I promised to deliver justice for her. Justice will come),” he said.
SUSPECTS
Bella Ruby Santos, a Cebuana, and her British partner Ian Charles Griffiths are the suspects in the kidnapping and death of Ellah Joy.
Santos and Griffiths are facing charges of kidnapping with homicide in relation to the girl’s death. Santos was arrested in a mall in Metro Manila in October last 2011.
Griffiths, a 51-year-old accountant, on the other hand, is believed to be in the United Kingdom and is on the “red alert list” of the Interpol as a fugitive wanted for prosecution in the Philippines.
Prosecution lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna said he was optimistic that the accused would be convicted of the crime.
“I state with firm conviction that the fire of the prosecution team is even burning brighter to see that justice be served,” he said.
The prosecution continues to present its evidence to prove the guilt of the accused.
Defense lawyers are asking the court to allow Santos to post bail pending resolution of the case./Reporter Ador Vincent S. Mayol